§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment in Halesowen and Stourbridge; and what this represents as a percentage of the total working population.
§ Mr. Golding:At 9th November, the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the areas covered by the Hales-Owen and Stourbridge employment offices were 616 and 1,241, respectively. Rates of unemployment are calculated for travel-to-work areas as a whole but not separately for their constituent parts. They are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of total employees, including the unemployed. The rate for the Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work area, which includes Halesowen and Stourbridge, 416W designed to maintain or improve the standards of health, safety and welfare established by or under those enactments.